Page 524 - Small Animal Clinical Nutrition 5th Edition

540 Small Animal Clinical Nutrition

VetBooks.ir 3. The resting energy requirement (RER) at the estimated optimal body weight is calculated as follows: RER optimal weight =
kcal/treat [84 kJ/treat]).
= 988 kcal (4.13 MJ). DER at optimal body weight would be approximately 1.4 to 1.6 x RER or 1,383 to 1,581 kcal
0.75
70(34)
(5.79 to 6.62 MJ). The daily caloric intake estimated in Question 2 is actually lower than RER for optimal body weight.
4. Because the current intake of 920 kcal (3.85 MJ) was slightly less than RER for an optimal weight of 34 kg, this level of caloric
restriction was not initially changed. Because the dog had been minimally active since the knee surgery, 20 to 60 minutes of per-
sistent leash walking per day was initiated. The owners were instructed to work up gradually to whatever amount of walking the
dog could do comfortably without soreness. The owners were asked to return every two weeks for the first couple of months to
weigh the dog and monitor progress.

Progress Notes
Figure 1 shows the weight loss that occurred with this feeding and exercise plan. Loss of almost 2% of starting weight (the maxi-
mum acceptable rate of weight loss) was achieved during the first two weeks by the addition of exercise. Unfortunately, weight was
actually gained during Weeks 3 and 4, which greatly discouraged the owners. The owners were counseled to persist with the leash
walking and the daily caloric intake was decreased to 725 kcal/day (3.03 MJ) (approximately 80% of calories indicated by the dietary
assessment) using the foods and feeding methods listed in Table 2.
After the dog had lost approximately 3 kg by Week 10, it ceased to limp and had a normal gait thereafter.The owners were unable
to walk the dog during Weeks 12 to 14 and some weight gain occurred. Weight loss continued when leash walks were resumed.
This finding demonstrates the importance of exercise as a component of daily energy expenditure, especially during weight reduc-
tion of calorically efficient animals.
Figure 2 compares weight loss with measurements of the dog’s pelvic circumference. This shows how the pelvic circumference
can be used with body weight to track relative progression of weight loss.
Calories were increased on Week 28 to maintain a body weight of 34 kg (Table 3). This dog maintained the reduced weight on
the same number of kcal as it used to maintain the obese weight. This indirectly supports the assertion that adipose tissue requires
very few calories to maintain its mass.

*Dr. Burkholder’s current affiliation is:
Division of Animal Feeds, HFV-228
Center for Veterinary Medicine
7519 Standish Place
Rockville, MD, USA 20855
Endnotes
a. Hill’s Pet Nutrition, Inc., Topeka, KS, USA.
b. Nabisco, East Hanover, NJ, USA.

Table 2. Feeding plan for further weight reduction.

Foods Feeding method kcal (MJ)
Prescription Diet r/d Canine, moist One-half can, morning 125 (0.52)
Prescription Diet r/d Canine, dry One and one-half cups, twice daily 600 (2.51)
Total = 725 kcal/day (3.03 MJ)
Table 3. Feeding plan to stabilize reduced body weight.
Foods Feeding method kcal (MJ)
Prescription Diet r/d Canine, moist One-half can, twice daily 250 (1.05)
Prescription Diet r/d Canine, dry One and two-thirds cups, twice daily 668 (2.80)
Total = 918 kcal/day (3.85 MJ)